pancreas diseases ; What are the characteristics of pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in
the U. S. Each year, approximately 30,000 Americans develop cancer of the pancreas. It occurs more frequently in women than in men. It is typically diagnosed at age 60 or over, and is seldom found in patients under age 40. Cancer of the pancreas is difficult to diagnose because the organ is surrounded and hidden by other organs, including the stomach, small intestine, bile duct, gallbladder, liver and spleen. This is why pancreatic cancer is frequently undetected in its earliest stage. One of the early warning signs is jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes.



Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer to watch out for:

Jaundice
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of appetite
Weight loss without change in eating habits
Pain in upper and middle abdomen, which may radiate into the back
Dark colored urine
Light colored stools


What are the stages of pancreatic cancer?

If a tumor is found to be malignant, its extent or spread is measured by a process called staging. Tumor stage is a classification based on the size of the primary tumor, involvement of nearby lymph glands, and spread to other organs, called metastasis. The stage of the tumor determines the appropriate treatment and the prognosis.

In cancer of the pancreas the stages are:

Stage I The cancer is limited to the pancreas, or its spread is localized in the surrounding tissues of the small intestine, stomach and bile duct.
Stage II The cancer has spread to the colon, spleen, stomach, or involves local major blood vessels, but has not reached the lymph system.
Stage III The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, although not necessarily to distant organs.
Stage IV The cancer has metastasized to more distant organs such as the lungs, or liver.

Most pancreatic cancers begin in the ducts that transport pancreatic enzymes. The most common form is adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic cancer most often occurs in the head of the pancreas and rarely develops in the "tail."

http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/cs/programs/pancreas/pancreatic_cancer.html